In the midst the fervent speculation swirling around the selection of a running mate for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), attention has consistently turned towards Minister for Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, as a formidable contender.
He finds himself among a roster of distinguished individuals including Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Chief of Staff Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, and EPA boss, Henry Kwabena Kokofu.
Yet, with Vice President and NPP presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, yet to issue an official statement regarding his choice for the December 7 elections, an air of uncertainty persists.
During an interview on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’ morning show with Kwami Sefa Kayi, Dr. Adutwum was directly pressed on his interest in joining forces with Bawumia as a running mate.
“We’re told you will be his (Bawumia) running mate. Is it true?” queried Sefa Kayi.
In response, Dr. Adutwum vehemently denied any knowledge of being chosen as Bawumia’s running mate.
“Respectfully, I am not the one going to appoint myself… I have no idea but what I know is that the president placed Ghana’s education in my charge and that is what I am committed to, so that the president does not regret appointing me a minister,” he said.
The host pressed him saying “you are saying his vice will be president and the one that will be his vice could be Yaw Adutwum. Is that true?” to which the minister retorted saying “I don’t know about that.”
Sefa Kayi pushed further asking “but are you interested?”
Dr. Adutwum responded by emphasising that his focus remains on being the best education minister the world has ever known.
Alluding to his time back in the US as a teacher, he recalled how he attended a workshop for superintendents and when asked why he was at the workshop, he responded by emphasising his dream of becoming a teaching superintendent in the future.
“I want to be the best education minister in the world. Once I am the best education minister in the world and someone who is flagbearer sees it and asks me to become his running mate, fine. But currently, I want to be the best education minister in the world…” he noted.